Pollokshields doesn’t often make national news, but the cameras came to my ward last week for two reasons.

They were here because of fireworks, with which the area has had longstanding issues, and because of the upcoming anniversary of a major fire which led to the collapse of a prominent listed tenement.

Both are examples of where local pressure can – or should – bring about national change.

I’ll start with the more explosive issue first. Fireworks are enjoyed by many as part of seasonal and cultural celebrations. But they also create misery for others, including animals and their owners, people with noise sensitivity and PTSD, and – as in the case of Pollokshields – those living where a small number of people deliberately use them to create havoc and fear.

This issue is guaranteed to spark debate on community Facebook pages, but it is serious and deserves considered solutions.

As I’m writing this, my social media feeds include footage of young men firing rockets at each other in the street and exploding large fireworks under parked cars in Shawlands, as well as local clear-ups revealing evidence of high-strength fireworks, marketed with names like Bad Boy Nuclear Sunrise.

Local pressure over recent years has led to the Scottish Government announcing long overdue plans for new fireworks laws. Their plans could, in effect, stop fireworks sales for anything other than licenced displays, as well as allowing locally-agreed ‘no fireworks zones’. Unfortunately the Government says it doesn’t have time to legislate before the next election. That’s not good enough – communities which have faced this barrage year-on-year shouldn’t have to face it again.

On a different note, the anniversary of the Albert Drive fire is time for reflection as well as for action.

Speaking to people affected this week, I was reminded of the shock felt by those who lost everything or saw their livelihoods ruined. Others have been locked out of their homes for a year now and still face an uncertain future.

It’s a complex situation which needs insurers and owners to find solutions - but it’s important these things aren’t allowed to drift. That’s why I’ve pressed for the Council to take a more proactive role, not just in the rebuild, but also for a longer-term revival plan for the area, and I’m pleased they have supported that call.

This needs to include investment in the area’s tenement housing stock, much of which hasn’t seen improvement in the last 40 years, as well as measures to ensure proper maintenance regimes and mandatory buildings insurance. Again, this is an area where the Scottish Government needs to deliver action so that our iconic tenements can continue to provide safe, warm and low carbon homes long into the future.

I know I’m biased, but it feels unfair that a community as brilliant as Pollokshields has become associated with these bad things happening.

My mission, working with others in the local community, is to make sure that by this time next year there’s a positive story to tell.

Jon Molyneux